Intern Interview: Michael Allen

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Student Intern Profile

Name: Michael Allen
Country: U.S.A.
Major: Economics
Internship at: Kanagawa Sohgoh High School
Duration: Summer 2014
Note: Semester Abroad

Q1: Why did you choose to intern at Kanagawa Sohgoh High School?

Michael: I choose to intern at Kanagawa Sohgoh High School because it gave me the opportunity to learn about Japanese culture through the eyes of Japanese teenagers. I believe this is the best and most effective way to learn about another culture.

Q2: What are some of your projects/responsibilities at the internship?

Michael: Some of the responsibilities at my internship included being an in-class assistant to numerous teachers throughout the school day as well as being an active participant in after-school clubs and activities such as Debate Club and Chit-Chat club.

Q3: What have you learned from the internship?

Michael: I have learned many things from my internship. However, the most important skill that I learned was how to be patient and express myself clearly and thoroughly. Teaching English is anything but easy. It is a difficult language to learn and an even more difficult language to teach. Therefore, having patience and the ability to express myself clearly was absolutely essential.

Q4: What was the biggest challenge you faced during your internship and what did you do to overcome it?

Michael: The biggest challenge that I faced during my internship was engaging students who were shy and afraid to speak English because of the fear of embarrassing themselves. In order to overcome this, I had to help students become more comfortable in an English speaking setting. I accomplished this by making students laugh and talking about subjects they found interesting.

Q5: Please tell us your future goals or your plans after graduation.

Michael: After graduation I have aspirations to go to law school. I would like to continue my education in order to increase my mental capital. I believe that in an ever-changing world an individual must continuously increase their mental capabilities to keep up with the ever-expanding job market.

Q6: How do you envision your internship experience helping you in the future?

Michael: My internship experience will help me in the future because it has provided me with a unique skillset that can directly affect my future career and overall lifestyle. My internship experience has taught me how to become more patient and how to express myself more clearly and this can transition into almost any real-life situation.

Q7: Would you recommend this internship to other TUJ students?

Michael: Interning at Kanagawa Sohgoh High School has been the best experience that I have ever had. In fact, it was my favorite part of my entire study abroad experience. Kanagawa Sohgoh, or commonly known as just “KanaSoh,” is a unique high school that emphasizes the importance of the arts and language learning. The teaching staff is friendly and positive and the students are eager to learn as much as they can while having fun at the same time. I highly recommend this internship to anyone who is looking to make his or her study abroad experience that much better.

Michael's Daily Schedule

TimeActivity
9:00Arrive at school
9:05-10:30Period 1 – In-class-assistant to teacher
11:35-12:15Period 2/Part 2 – In-class-assistant to teacher
12:20-13:00Lunch in cafeteria with students
13:05-13:50Period 3/Part 1 – In-class-assistant to teacher
13:55-14:35Period 3/Part 2 – In-class-assistant to teacher
14:45-15:30Off
15:35-17:30Chit-Chat Club
17:35Leave School